What the heck is going on?!
I ask myself this on a daily basis. I have been very deliberate to keep any political conversations to in-person interactions, or actual telephone conversations. For the simple reason that I do not feel sensitive topics, of any kind, should be discussed in any other way. Now, what I’m seeing is very concerning. First, we are making some pretty blanket statements lately, and have tethered ourselves to political parties whose sole motivations are fueled by a desire to have power and exercise control. It is, what it is, politics is UGLY. Second, in our quest to “shine light on truth” we’re overlooking individuals. What I mean by that is, we are dismissing what others opinions are if they differ from our own personal opinions. This is horrible! Part of what is really cool about people are each person’s experiences, perspectives, stories, journeys… all of it! Every little morsel of seasoning that makes each of us what we are. We’ve turned into people that only want to be surrounded by others who are like-minded. This isn’t, in and of itself bad, but, we fail when we exclude others who ARE different. It’s in our differences that we get challenged and are forced to really dissect and unpack the “why” we think, how we think. It’s not a bad thing to challenge one another. BUUUUTTT… always treating others the way we want to be treated, and how we’d like to be spoken to. In the “political discourse” we’re loosing (or forgetting) how to be civil. And, a more harsh (still in love) observation for my brothers and sisters in Christ, you’re looking like, and sounding like, the world.
There’s talks of beheading? There’s cities boarded up? Civil War? Are you all freaking kidding me?
Look, no offense to where you’ve hung your hat but neither the current president nor the former vice-president are the best we have to offer. They are both men who lack. What one lacks in couth, decorum and class, the other lacks in action, decisiveness and transparency. Neither are “good, fine, men” to negate that, is to lie to oneself.
However, here we are.
From the cheap seats, and with those people I’ve been blessed enough to have real conversations with, this is what I’ve gathered and observed. We assess:
If a person votes for Trump: They are voting for a racist who told a supremacist group to stand ready to respond. For a person who has a history of sexualizing women, and is a repeated adulterer. A person with shady business dealings who has prided themselves on their ability to get what they want, at any cost. An over-confident, arrogant person, who is rough around the edges, and almost never says the right thing. A person who is motivated by serving self, and loves nothing but himself and his legacy.
If a person votes for Biden: They are voting for the machine of politics. For a socialist. For a career politician who has proven to meander and pander. A person who has been in public service for 47 years yet proclaims that NOW, something is going to change or be different. A person that has said he is “very affectionate” when confronted with questions about inappropriate behavior. Another dirty-politician, who may not be mentally fit for the office of president of the United States.
I know I missed a bunch of stuff, but I hope you have the synopsis of what is the over-arching opinions about either of these men who have run for the highest political seat in our country. I’m not at all saying that a voter for Trump is an adulterous, racist, who only cares about themselves. Just as, I’m not saying that a voter for Biden is a socialist, that desires to change the very fabric of the United States. Both of those statements are way too broad, way too simple, and motivates us to shut down any conversation with a person with an opposing opinion, because… there is no wiggle room. Are we being steered to stop having conversations? To implode? And… who is steering? Why are we allowing this?
Can you, for a split moment (a brief second) see why someone who voted for Biden, cannot fathom why one would vote for the man, Trump?
Can you, for a split second (a brief moment) see why someone who voted for Trump, cannot fathom why a person could vote for Biden, the career politician?
Are we so far gone that we can no longer see one another as individuals, and that we constantly paint with these broad brushes?
Look, I don’t know much, but what I know is that I’m seeing friendships, relationships, communities being torn apart because we cannot have conversations that are not, absolute. I may not understand why YOU choose to do certain things, but, that (by itself) doesn’t make you a horrible human being. NEWSFLASH: We’re all horrible. We’re all sinful. We’re all broken. Stop pretending you’re not, and start extending a bit of grace.
Maybe, just maybe… the person who voted for your personal opposition has another reason that you didn’t even think about. A reason that isn’t as divisive as we’re so quick to determine. Regardless, elections come and go, presidents come and go… but while we’re all stuck on this spinning sphere we’ve got each other. Let’s not set fire to what should be permanent, solely based on those things that are temporary.
“and that’s all I have say about that” Forrest Gump.